03/13/2014

Vintage Wallpaper in Lee Daniel's The Butler

No matter how hard I try, I never can seem to get myself to the movie theater in time to see a film on the big screen. Somehow something else always springs up to steal my attention despite my best efforts. Before I know it, the dvd is already sitting on the store shelves behind a “sale” sign while I’m thinking that I still might want to catch it in the theaters. So, in my typical fashion, I just now finally got around to watching Lee Daniels’ The Butler. Even with all the hype last fall, it still took me 6 months or so to remember that seeing it was, in fact, something I had wanted to do. (Actually, 6 months isn’t too bad for me…)

The Butler’s cast list was loaded with big name stars: Forest Whitaker, Oprah, Cuba Gooding Jr., Robin Williams, John Cusack, Alan Rickman, Vanessa Redgrave, Mariah Carey…(whew…I almost ran out of breath just typing that list). The story follows the life of Cecil Gaines, an African-American butler serving in the White House during the civil rights movement. While Cecil’s position in the white house requires him to distance himself from political activity and remain dutifully objective, his son Louis makes his way to the front of every civil rights struggle. The film traces both Cecil and Louis’s encounters with racial adversity while showing their very different yet similarly minded paths to overcoming discrimination and achieving equality.

While the storyline and historical context of the movie were engaging, I must admit that I was also paying attention to the set backgrounds…

A few rolls of Hannah’s Treasures’ vintage wallpaper were lucky enough to make it on screen and help bring to life the late 1950’s/ early 1960’s set. This kitchen wallpaper played a supporting role in the kitchen scene, the setting of Gloria’s chilling story of racial violence and Cecil’s uneasy phone call.

It’s always fun to see our vintage wallpaper make it to a movie set knowing that it’s been expertly chosen to capture and enhance the essence of the film. There are many reasons to see The Butler besides the vintage wallpaper, but it sure doesn’t hurt to make it an additional perk!

Comments

Vintage Wallpaper in Lee Daniel's The Butler

No matter how hard I try, I never can seem to get myself to the movie theater in time to see a film on the big screen. Somehow something else always springs up to steal my attention despite my best efforts. Before I know it, the dvd is already sitting on the store shelves behind a “sale” sign while I’m thinking that I still might want to catch it in the theaters. So, in my typical fashion, I just now finally got around to watching Lee Daniels’ The Butler. Even with all the hype last fall, it still took me 6 months or so to remember that seeing it was, in fact, something I had wanted to do. (Actually, 6 months isn’t too bad for me…)

The Butler’s cast list was loaded with big name stars: Forest Whitaker, Oprah, Cuba Gooding Jr., Robin Williams, John Cusack, Alan Rickman, Vanessa Redgrave, Mariah Carey…(whew…I almost ran out of breath just typing that list). The story follows the life of Cecil Gaines, an African-American butler serving in the White House during the civil rights movement. While Cecil’s position in the white house requires him to distance himself from political activity and remain dutifully objective, his son Louis makes his way to the front of every civil rights struggle. The film traces both Cecil and Louis’s encounters with racial adversity while showing their very different yet similarly minded paths to overcoming discrimination and achieving equality.

While the storyline and historical context of the movie were engaging, I must admit that I was also paying attention to the set backgrounds…